Column splicer and method of splicing



Nav. 159, 19. w. T. FEIQRGUSON ETAL 2,222,431

COLUMN SPLICER AND METHOD OF SPLICING -Filed Nov. 2, 1 938 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS M'rr'en 7T Ferguson Mali-er 0-. FergizsonvATTORNEY Nov. 19; 1940. w. T. FERGUSON ETAL.

COIJUMN SPLICER AND METHOD OF SPLICING v 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2,1938 Willa 3 Ferguson 11 II I'll rlll.|. ll!

42 Md ATTORNEY INVENTO Marren 7'" BY "filter G. Ferguson Patented Nov.19, 1940 COLUMN SPLICER AND METHOD OF SPLIC'ING Warren T. Ferguson,Wab'an, and Walter G. Forguson, Brookline, Mass, assignors to AndersonProducts, Inc., Cambridge, Mass, a corporation of MassachusettsApplication November 2, 1938, Serial No. 238,376

4 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to a means and method of repairing orsplicing columns of any type but is concerned principally with piles ofthe type used in connection with wharves, docks, piers and similarstructures.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a means and methodwhereby a new pile may be spliced to the undamaged portion of adefective pile. Another object of our invention is to provide means forpositioning a quantity of unset cement, concrete, or other materialabout the end of a submerged pile in such a manner that the cement orconcrete will not be harmfully diluted by water.

Another object of our invention is to provide a means and method ofsplicing piles so that the resulting joint will render the repaired pileat least as strong as a new pile with respect to both lateral andvertical loads. A further object of this invention is to provide meanswhereby the piles to be spliced are accurately alined with each other sothat the load will be properly distributed.

Still another object is to provide means for supporting in properposition a concrete container so that concrete therein, when allowed toslump about the piles, will be distributed a proper distance above andbelow the point of abutenrent.

These and other objects of our invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a pile destroyed by marine borers to such an extent thatreplacement or repair is desirable; I

Fig. 2 shows the damaged pile sawed .oif near the mudline and below thedamaged portion with our supporting and centering devicein position;

Fig. 3 shows the preliminary stages of installing a new section of pile;

Fig. 4 shows the new pile in position, centered with relation to thestub pile below and the concrete container positioned thereabout;

Fig. 5 shows the inner tube removed from the container with the concretein position about the pile;

Fig. 6 is 'a plan view of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective of our supporting frame and centering device.

The pile 2 disclosed in Fig. 1 represents a typical situation prevalentin coastal waters of the United States and elsewhere in which the pilehas been badly damaged by the destructive action of certain amphipodcrustacea which are present in serious degree at the present time inmany harbors. When the pile is badly eaten away, as shown, it becomesnecessary sooner or later to replace or repair it that the load abovemay be properly supported. In certain cases it is preferable to replacethe pile entirely either by withdrawing the old pile from the bottom '5and inserting a new one, or by driving a new pile into the bottomadjacent the old one. This. procedure is expensive and is not alwaysfeasible if the pile happens to be in an inaccessible position, as forexample, under a dock.

In such cases it may be better to attempt to repair the damaged pile bycutting away the damaged portion and inserting a new piece there-'above. In repairing a pile in this manner, it is, of course, desirablethat the new pile and the stump or stub in the bottom be alined witheach other so that the load may be properly distributed, and it isnecessary that the joint between the two parts be sufficiently strong tohold the abutting ends in position while ofiering adequate resistance toany lateral loads that may be applied.

In the U. S. patent issued to John Upton, No. 2,130,047, it is proposedto splice the abutting ends of piles by means of a re-enforced concretejoint, and the present invention is an improvement thereon.

In practicing our invention, the pile 2 is sawed off at 4 below thedamaged portion, leaving a stub 5 in the bottom. This may be at the mud-'30 line or some distance above, depending on circumstances. If,however, the sound portion of the pile terminates close to the bottom asat 4, then the bottom material adjacent the pile is scraped away, as at6 in Fig. 2, to provide a sufficiently clear distance along the pile topermit placing thereover the supporting frame and centering devicegenerally referred to as 8.

The unit 8, as will be seen, has a supporting plate H) in the form of across, adapted to rest 40 on the upper end of the stub, and this platemay be definitely located in position by means of the spikes l2 whichare driven into the pile through the holes l4.

The ends of plate l0 overhang the sides of the stub 5 more or lessdepending upon the relative diameters, and to these ends are connectedthe vertical members [6 which extend suitable distances above and belowplate [0. The upper ends of the members I6 are connected by a circularband [8, while the lower ends of members l6 are connected by thecircular band 20. It will be observed that the members l6 extend adistance below band 20 and are bent outwardly at 22 to form supports onwhich rests a ring 24. 55

With the unit a positioned as shown in Fig. 2,

it is apparent that the members 16 and ring 20 are spaced approximatelya uniform distance from the stub 5, and this position will be maintainedby virtue of the fixed connection between plate I and the stub.

Having proceeded thus far, the lower stub with unit 8 thereon is readyto receive a replacement pile thereabove to which the stub is to bespliced. In Fig. 3'is illustrated one method of proceeding. Thereplacement pile 26, cut to proper length and having splicing unit 28positioned thereabouts, is lowered to the position shown, the lower endbeing guided within rin 18 in any convenient manner but ordinarilythrough the assistance of a diver. cannot be lowered vertically but mustbe swun in diagonally in order to get the upper end under thesuperstructure that it is to support, it is essential that thediameterof band I8 be somewhat larger than the diameter of the new pileso. that there will. be no binding.

The splicing unit shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is disclosed in the U. S.Patent No. 2,130,047 to Upton above referred to and comprises an outertubular casing 36 with an annular bottom 32 and an inner removable wallor tube 34 which issomewhat greater in diameter than the innercircumference of the bottom 32. A metal re-enforcement member 36, whichis shown in the form of helix, is positioned in the splicing unit. Theentire device may be supported about the replacement pile and above thewater line by any convenient means as, for example, the hoist 38.

When thereplacement pile 26 has been swung into its correct. positionas' shown in Fig. 4, the diver on the bottom then applies centeringmeans to. the band i8 sothat pile 23 will be alined with stub 5. Oneform of centering means is shown in Fig. 4 and consists of wedges 48which may be driven downwardly between the band and the pile to give thedesired result.

Having centered and alined the piles in this manner, splicing uni-t 28is then filled with concrete or cement of a type capable of settingunder water. An annular cover 42 which may be in two halves for facilityin installing is placed on top of the cement for the purpose ofpreventing harmful dilution when the splicing unit is lowered into thewater.

With these preparations completed, unit 28 is then lowered into thewater about the pile to assume the position shown in Fig. 4. Thesplicing unit will be supported by ring 2-4 which is in engagement withbottom 32.

As can be seen, the unset cement at this stage is well-confined withinthe splicing unit so that water has little opportunity toact thereon.The diver then attaches to the inner tube 34 a suitable hoistingmechanism 45 and the inner tube is drawn upwardly as shown in Fig. 5.This results in the concrete slumping about the abutting piles as shownas the intervening water is displaced. With the re-enforcemen-t 36 inthe concrete, a very strong joint is formed as soon as the concrete hasset.

In-ner tube- 34 which may be made in the two halves is removed from thepile, and the splicing operation is complete.

In. the drawings, certain of the parts have been exaggerated forpurposes of clarity as, for example, 'the thickness of the walls of thesplicing unit, which in reality are of thin sheet steel. Again theclearance shown between band 28 and the pile-is somewhat greater thanwould pertain If the pile in practice. It is contemplated that thisclearance will be maintained sufliciently small so that upon removal ofinner tube 34, concrete will not run out to such an extent as to damagethe efiectiveness of the joint in any way. If by any chance thisclearance in a particular instance should be excessively great, thediver may fill the space with a sealing material so that escape of theconcrete may be prevented.

In addition to the method already recited we have found that it ispossible to make a satisfactory splice by' positioning the container inthe following manner.

On the stub 5 is positioned the unit 8 in the manner heretoforedescribed. The splicing unit 28 is then lowered into position as shownin Fig. 4, but before the new pile 26 is introduced.

After splicing unit 28 has been properly settled on the members 22 ofthe unit 8, the'new pile 26 is swung into position, which, of course,

may be readily accomplished as there is ample clearan'cewithin tube 34so that the lower end of the new pile may be slid into position withinthe upper band Hi. When this has been accomplished the arrangement ofthe parts Will be the same as in Fig. 4. Thereafter the inner tube 34may be withdrawn to complete the splice.

Still another method of accomplishing our result may be practiced. Thecontainer or splicing unit 28 is positioned about unit 8 while the twoare still out of water. The hoist 38 is in this sit- 1 uation'secured'to the unit 8 and the combined parts are then lowered over theend of stub 5 to assume the position shown in Fig. 4, without, however,the upper pile 26 beingin place. Thereafter pile 26 is introduced andthe inner tube 313 withdrawn so that the splice may be completed.

In the: practice of any of the foregoing methods it is contemplated thatthe initial cubic content of the splicing unit 28 will be great enoughto provide ample concrete above and below the point of abutment of thepiles after the inner tube 34 has been removed.

Under certain circumstances it is possible to make a suitable splicewithout the use of cement or similar material. Instead the splicing unit23 may be filled with sand, finely crushed rock orany other materialthat will settle to a compact mass that will offer substantialresistance to the lateral displacement of the abutting piles.

A splice utilizing the latter materials might be made under conditionswhere the only requirement of the repaired pile would be to carry avertical load and where little lateral support was needed.

We also intend that the construction of the unit 8' may be varied indetail so long as it functions as a; mechanism for substantially aliningthe abutting members as well as providing means for supporting thesplicing unit in a position about the joint.

While we have disclosed various methods of performing our invention, wewish it to be distinctly understood that we do not intend to be limitedthereby but only by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A centering and supporting device for use in alining abuttingcolumns. comprising a plate adaptedto be positioned on the end of one ofsaid columns, longitudinally extending members connected to said plateand having spaces therebetween to, permit easy lateral passage offlowable material therethrough, a ring attached to said. members remotefrom said plate to form an opening sufficiently large to permit theunbinding entrance of the end of a column within, said members having attheir other ends outwardly extending portions to provide a support for asurrounding structure.

2. Means for supporting a container about the end of a column comprisinga unit having a plate adapted to rest on the end of said column, aplurality of spaced apart members connected to said plate and extendingboth upwardly and downwardly therefrom, a ring connected at the upperend of said members remote from said plate to form an opening forreception of the end of a column, a second ring connected to the otherend of said members and also remote from said plate, the lower ends ofsaid members being bent outwardly to form supports, and an annular ringcarried by said supports.

3. The method of splicing columns comprising the steps of aligning apair of columns by means of a frame extending about the ends of bothcolumns but sufiiciently loose about the end of the upper of saidcolumns to permit lateral movement therein, positioning a containerhaving therein material capable of flowing and packing itself andsupported by connection with said frame about the position of abutmentof said columns, and thereafter removing the inner wall of saidcontainer to allow said material to slump about the said abuttingcolumns.

4. Means for use in splicing columns, comprising in combination acentering and supporting device comprising a plate adapted to bepositioned between the ends of said columns, longitudinally extendingmembers connected to said plate and having spaces therebetween to permiteasy lateral passage of a flowable material therethrough, a ringattached to said members remote from said plate to form an openingsufliciently large to permit the free entrance of the end of a columnwithin, said members having at their other ends outwardly extendingportions to provide a support, and a tubular casing having an annularbottom and a removable inner wall suitable for holding material capableof flowing and packing itself, said tubular casing surrounding saidcentering and supporting device and in supported engagement with theoutwardly extending portions of said longitudinally extending members,said plate extending in a direction transverse of and located within theconfines of said tubular casing.

WARREN T. FERGUSON.

WALTER G. FERGUSON.

